By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged cooperation Wednesday to tackle North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, saying Pyongyang's intended rocket launch was a violation of a U.N. resolution prohibiting its ballistic missile activity.
At a summit in London, they agreed to foster a ``future-oriented'' relationship between Korea and Japan, strengthening economic cooperation and promoting exchanges between the two Asian neighbors.
Lee also held summits with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The leaders discussed the global economic recession and agreed to strengthen cooperation to help the global economy get back on track, South Korean officials said.
Lee is also scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit.
``Lee and Aso exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the global economic crisis, North Korea and the future of the global economy,'' Cheong Wa Dae said.
The two leaders agreed that if North Korea launches a rocket, it could face international sanctions under a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution prohibiting Pyongyang's ballistic missile activities.
The North has said it will launch a communications satellite into orbit between April 4 and 8 as part of its space development program. Regional powers, however, suspect the North is using the launch to test long-range missile technology.
``Lee and Aso agreed that international sanctions are necessary if the North goes ahead with the rocket launch,'' a presidential spokesman said after the summit.
The two leaders also agreed to help Japanese firms increase their presence in the Korean market and boost exchanges between small- and mid-sized enterprises in the two countries.
Seoul and Tokyo will strengthen cooperation in the development of space and nuclear technology and coordinate policies on global economic issues, such as rising protectionism and financial system reform.
The summit also focused on ways to stabilize regional financial markets and denuclearize North Korea under the framework of the six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, China and Russia, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
In the evening, Lee attended a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.